Closure fastener



April 95 c. SARVER 2,790,663

' CLOSURE FASTENER Filed Dec. 5. 1954 Fig./

1 Fig.3 5

Carter L. Sarver INVENTORV M r-"i;

United States Patent CLOSURE FASTENER Carter L. Sarver, Princeton, Ill.

Application December 3, 1954, Serial No. 472,920

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-264) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches or fasteners particularly for farm gates, although it will be understood, of course, that the device may be used on any other closure for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a closure of the aforementioned character which may be readily adjusted to meet various conditions.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a gate fastener of the character described which cannot be released by stock.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a gate or closure fastener of the character set forth which may be used either left or right handed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a closure fastener which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the keeper.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the keeper.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a keeper of suitable metal which is designated generally by reference character 5. The keeper 5, which may be of any desired dimensions, includes a substantially rectangular base plate 6 for mounting said keeper on a conventional gate post, as at 7. To-

ward this end, the plate 6 has formed therein a pair of vertically spaced, parallel, horizontal slots 8 for the reception of lag screws, as at 9. As will be readily apparent, the slots 8 permit horizontal adjustment of the keeper "ice 5 toward or away from the gate, as at 10. The rear corner portions of the mounting plate 6 are formed to provide inturned teeth or prongs 11 which bite into the post 7 for positively retaining the keeper against slippage.

Formed integrally with the front portion of the plate 6 is a right angularly extending flange 12. Angulated tongues 13 are struck rearwardly from the upper and lower end portions of the flange 12 in a manner to define vertical slots 14. The slot 14 which is uppermost is for the reception of a suitable chain, as at 15, which, in the installation which has been illustrated, is mounted on the free end portion of the gate 10. The flange 12 is further provided, at an intermediate point, with an opening 16, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

It is thought that the operation of the fastener will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, one end of the chain 15 is secured, as at 17, on the gate 10. The keeper 5 is adjusted to the desired position on the post 7 and secured by tightening the lag screws 9. With the gate 10 in closed position, the chain 15 is dropped into the uppermost slot 14 and a link of said chain is looped over the corresponding tongue 13 where it is retained by the weight of the depending free end portion of said chain. In this manner the chain 15 is anchored in the slot. For positively preventing unauthorized unfastening of the gate, a suitable padlock (not shown) may be inserted through the opening 16 and through an adjacent link of the chain 15.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be restorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A closure fastener of the character described comprising: a metallic keeper including a vertical base plate, means for adjustably securing said base plate on a support, a lateral flange integral with the base plate, tongues stmck vertically from the upper and lower end portions of the flange for defining vertical slots aligned with said tongues, and a link type chain adjustably insertable in the slot which is uppermost and resting by gravity therein, the uppermost tongue being engageable in the chain for anchoring same in the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,214 Henninges Feb. 25, 1908 1,117,930 Turner Nov. 17, 1914 1,496,793 Unger June 10, 1924 1,612,225 Schoy Dec. 28, 1926 

